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FY22 Goal 1: Resolve Taxpayer Problems Accurately and Timely

Objectives & Activities

1
1.

Identify and propose recommendations to mitigate filing season, examination, collection, and tax administration issues to improve taxpayer service.

  1. Continue working with the IRS on TAS’s recommendation for a robust online account for individuals and practitioners, which would reduce the strain on IRS resources.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  2. Continue to urge Congress to ensure the IRS has sufficient funding, staffing, and technology to provide a high level of service to taxpayers while protecting their rights.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
2
2.

Work with the IRS to identify opportunities to minimize refund delays for taxpayers whose legitimate tax returns are delayed by IRS fraud filters.

  1. Continue to work with the IRS to improve IRS correspondence notices and letters for clarity, including information posted on IRS.gov Understanding Your Notice pages. TAS will continue to advocate for enhancements to IRS tools, such as Where’s My Refund and IRS2go, to include the reasons for the refund delay, any documents or information the taxpayer may need to provide for the IRS to process the claim for refund, and reasonable estimates of when taxpayers can expect to receive their refund.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  2. Continue involvement on IRS cross-functional teams including advocating for an improved e-authentication method for taxpayers selected by IDT filters.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  3. Continue to advocate for the widespread use of the digital document upload portal or other technology that will allow taxpayers to securely submit identity and income verification documents electronically.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  4. Continue reviewing our local TAS cases and external submissions in the Systemic Advocacy Management System (SAMS) to identify potential programming errors or taxpayer burden deficiencies with IRS fraud filters or the processing and release of refunds for those associated taxpayers.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
3
3.

Advocate for taxpayers requesting an opportunity for administrative review, issuance of a 30-day letter, review with the Independent Office of Appeals, and improved online tools.

  1. Continue to advocate for an appeal process for denied requests for abatement and if appropriate, issuance of revised IRM procedures, and make recommendations as appropriate.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  2. Continue to advocate for changes and updates to online tools such as Where’s My Amended Return to give taxpayers necessary information about the status of their amended returns.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  3. Collaborate with the IRS on reviewing current language for improvements to information provided to taxpayers via online tools.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
4
4.

Work with the IRS with the goal of preventing Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) and Advanced Child Tax Credit (ACTC) math errors in the next filing season.

  1. Educate taxpayers on how to compute the credit correctly to prevent errors and delays in processing their 2021 return for an EIP 3 not received in 2021 and claimed as RRC.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  2. Review the RRC Worksheet in the tax year 2021 Form 1040 Instructions and work with the IRS to determine if clarifications in computing the RRC are needed, and if so, recommend updating the form before the next filing season.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  3. Conduct research to identify the most common math errors for the RRC and work with the IRS to educate taxpayers including the use of FAQs on IRS.gov and the tax year 2021 Form 1040 instructions.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  4. Analyze RRC math errors and related programming to determine if there were any procedural defects for RRC processing and if so, propose corrections.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  5. If appropriate, submit recommendations for IRM updates through the normal reviews and the Out of Clearance Process.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
5
5.

Work with IRS on recovery efforts to ensure the Child Tax Credit (CTC) Update Portal and periodic payments are accurate and timely and propose. recommendations as appropriate

  1. Participate on Servicewide teams to identify, monitor, and evaluate any issues arising with the CTC Update Portal, the Non-Filers Sign-Up tool, or periodic payments.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  2. Assist the IRS with development of IRM updates, correspondence products, self-help guidance, and other materials to reflect the legislative mandates and procedures.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  3. Work with the IRS to develop targeted outreach to taxpayers and tax professionals to provide education about the options and benefits of the CTC Update Portal and the Non-Filers Sign-Up tool
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
6
6.

Continue to advocate to mitigate the unintended impact of the filing season postponements to taxpayers whose advance payments no longer correspond to the due dates for 2019 and 2020 tax returns for timely refunds within the three year statue.

  1. Advocate for publicized administrative guidance, such as the issuance of a Treasury regulation, revenue ruling, revenue procedure, notice, or other administrative guidance to provide relief to taxpayers whose refund claims may be affected by the postponed tax year 2019 and 2020 filing due dates.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  2. Analyze possible negative impact on refund claims of other postponements including weather-related natural disaster relief provided during the last three filing seasons.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  3. If appropriate, advocate for additional publicized administrative guidance to provide relief to taxpayers whose refund claims may be affected by other disaster relief postponements.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update:
  4. If relief is not provided before the tax filing season 2023, inform the public of the refund payment risks associated with the tax return due dates postponed in 2020 and 2021 to prevent denial or reduction of refunds pursuant to the “look-back” rule, and communicate the risk with stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging on this time-sensitive issue.
    Status: Open
    Expected Completion Date:
    Quarterly Update: